UPDATED: COURT STANDS DOWN FOR JUSTICE NGWUTA’S BAIL APPLICATION’S HEARING

A Federal High Court in Abuja has stood down proceedings for two hours to enable the Federal Government respond to the bail application filed by a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, who was arraigned on money laundering charges and others earlier today (Monday).

The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Charles Adeogun-Philips, told the trial judge, Justice John Tsoho that he prepared to call the first prosecution witness shortly after the defendant pleaded not guilty to all the 16 counts preferred against him on Monday.

But the defence led by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) later informed the court of his client’s bail application.

Adeogun-Philips responded by saying that he was just served and so he needed time to read the motion to enable him to take a decision on whether to oppose it or not. He suggested a two-hour stand-down which was agreed to by Agabi and subsequently by the judge.

The judge then stood down till 12.30pm.